Chapter 30: Spreading Enlightenment and Dispelling Doubts—Demon or Jester?

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[Spirit Artifact Advancement Card: Raises a spirit artifact by one rank]

Li Wudao’s eyes lit up.

The Dragon Abyss Sword in his possession was currently a high-grade Earth-rank weapon. If he used the Advancement Card, would it not evolve into a Heaven-rank spirit artifact?

Brilliant!

He grinned so broadly that he nearly laughed aloud.

Heaven-rank spirit artifacts were extraordinarily precious. Within the Profound Heaven Sect, only the few peak masters probably possessed the qualifications to use one.

However, he had no intention of using it for the time being.

He understood the principle that an innocent man invited disaster by possessing a treasure.

“So investments can work this way too. I’ve been thinking too narrowly. I’ll have to broaden my horizons from now on.”

Li Wudao pondered the matter, deeply moved by this unexpected windfall.

One can plant a willow in passing and end up with a flourishing shade.

He had merely intended to instruct a few disciples from his clan, yet had unexpectedly made a fortune.

Scanning the many disciples practicing nearby, the young man seemed to grasp something.

Suddenly, Li Wudao thought of an idea. He slapped his hands together and murmured excitedly, “Since guiding someone in martial arts can also earn me a rebate, why not hold a large-scale lecture? If I do that...”

The thought alone made his breathing quicken with excitement.

Looking at the sea of disciples before him, all Li Wudao could see were fat sheep and gleaming tufts of wool, just waiting for him to shear.

“Young Master, what’s wrong? Are you all right?”

Li Dabao’s baby-fat cheeks bore a pair of small, bewildered eyes.

Li Xiaoyu and the others were equally puzzled. Had they not seen a look of excitement on their young master’s face?

“I’m fine. I’ve never been better.”

Without saying anything more, Li Wudao strode toward an empty arena in the center.

He climbed onto the platform, looked around at the disciples engrossed in their practice, and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Everyone, put down what you’re doing for a moment. I have an announcement!”

His words immediately drew everyone’s attention.

There were quite a few newcomers present who recognized Li Wudao at once. They were curious to see what this exceptionally talented young man intended to do.

Most of the older disciples, however, glared at him angrily. Their cultivation had been interrupted without warning, and they were thoroughly displeased.

Since the youth was a newcomer at that, they naturally had no intention of showing him any courtesy.

There were also several familiar faces among the crowd who knew Li Wudao.

For instance, the Seventh Prince of the Great Qi Dynasty, as well as Qiu Zishi, Wang Zhao, and the others who were seldom apart.

One person in particular was worth mentioning.

Jiang Churan was also present. Upon seeing Li Wudao, she stopped cultivating and instinctively walked over.

Noticing that more than half the eyes in the area had turned toward him, Li Wudao nodded in satisfaction. Then he raised one finger and announced, “Today, I will teach and answer questions right here. One spirit stone for guidance on one martial technique—fair prices, no tricks!”

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As soon as he said this, everyone froze.

In an instant, countless gazes, like a surging tide, fell upon the young man on the platform. Their expressions varied.

Curiosity, suspicion, disdain, indifference...

The effect was excellent.

Li Wudao decided that he possessed a natural talent for public speaking and privately congratulated himself.

After waiting for a moment, he judged that the time was right and continued, “Don’t pass by without stopping! For just one spirit stone, you won’t lose out and you won’t be cheated!”

“One spirit stone for anything and everything! Every martial technique costs only one spirit stone! It’s worth far more than you pay, and I guarantee you’ll gain an insight!”

Li Wudao shouted himself hoarse as he advertised his services.

To his surprise, the crowd’s reaction was rather enthusiastic.

“Bah! Teaching martial techniques for one spirit stone? What a joke!”

“You claim you can instruct anyone in any martial technique? Take a good look at yourself and ask whether you’re even qualified!”

“You’re nothing more than a newly inducted core disciple, yet you already think you’re some heaven-blessed genius? Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?”

Mockery and jeers came pouring down from all sides, most of them from the older disciples.

They had thought this newcomer might have something impressive to offer. In the end, this was all he had?

“Brother Li is being a little too confident...”

“Indeed. The sect’s martial techniques are as numerous as the stars. Although Brother Li can rival the prodigies of ancient times, he probably couldn’t comprehend more than a few techniques in such a short time.”

Qiu Zishi and Wang Zhao shook their heads.

The techniques and cultivation arts of a first-rate sect were vast and all-encompassing. Even the elder in charge of the Scripture Repository could not possibly have read them all, much less understood every one of them.

Amid the crowd, Jiang Churan stood immaculate in white. Her skin was fairer than snow, and her skirt swayed gently as she moved, making her seem as graceful as an immortal.

Yet the girl’s bearing was too extraordinary. Standing there, she seemed distant as mist among the clouds, carrying in every movement a sense of detachment from the mundane world. In her presence, others could not help but feel inferior, and no one dared approach her.

“What is this fellow trying to do...?”

Jiang Churan’s lashes trembled lightly as she gazed at Li Wudao in astonishment.

She had to admit that his comprehension was astonishingly strong, enough to rival the freakish geniuses of the Imperial Province.

But a person’s energy was limited. One naturally had to focus on the path at which one excelled.

Could Li Wudao truly intend to cultivate every unrelated martial technique?

It was unreasonable, and even less realistic.

Time alone would be insufficient.

And even if he somehow managed it, would it really be worth doing for a mere spirit stone?

Or was all of this simply an attempt to make a spectacle of himself and attract attention?

For a time, Jiang Churan was filled with questions.

The Li Wudao before her seemed unfamiliar, growing ever more distant from the youth in her memories.

At that moment, the curses from the arena grew increasingly fierce.

Many disciples shouted for Li Wudao to get down, threatening to teach him a lesson if he refused.

Insults of every kind echoed throughout the entire training ground.

“Hahaha! I’ve never seen anyone bring ruin upon himself so eagerly!”

Qi Xingyu was laughing so hard that tears nearly streamed from his eyes, and his mood was indescribably pleasant.

He had disliked Li Wudao from the beginning. After being suppressed by him several times, he had been desperately searching for an opportunity to take revenge.

Now that opportunity had arrived. He did not even need to lift a finger—Li Wudao had ruined himself.

It could not have been more satisfying!

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“Young Master...”

Li Dabao and the other two were thrown into a panic. They were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, completely at a loss for what to do.

Jiang Churan felt a dull unease in her heart. Pressing her lips together, she hurried forward.

“Li Wudao, come down at once. Stop fooling around.”

She glared at him with phoenix-shaped eyes. Though her voice carried anger, worry was far more evident in her expression.

If he provoked the fury of the crowd, the combined spit of every person present could drown him.

In the worst-case scenario, he might even be punished by the sect and stripped of his stipend and other resources.

Li Wudao had helped her three times. She could not stand by and watch him fall into the abyss.

“I’m not fooling around. Just watch.”

Li Wudao had anticipated this scene long ago and remained completely composed.

He paid no attention to Jiang Churan and continued shouting, “Time is limited! Anyone who wants guidance on a martial technique, hurry up! If I can’t deliver, I’ll pay ten times the price! First come, first served!”

All the disciples froze.

This fellow really was thick-headed—like a dead pig that did not fear boiling water.

At a time like this, he was still trying to hawk his services?

“You... Forget it. I can’t be bothered with you!”

Having been denied in front of everyone, Jiang Churan snorted softly and turned her head away, stomping her foot in anger.

She had never expected her good intentions to be treated like a donkey’s liver and lungs.

Looking at the calm young man on the platform, Jiang Churan bit her lip tightly and muttered inwardly.

She was the Azure Radiance Empress. How many people beneath heaven were worthy of having her speak up on their behalf?

And yet, in full view of the entire crowd, he had actually rejected her.

Her heart was filled with both disappointment and indignation.

At that moment, the girl’s cheeks flushed faintly with embarrassment and anger, lending her features an entirely different charm. A single fleeting glance was enough to set the hearts of countless disciples trembling and leave them hopelessly enthralled.

Before anyone realized it, she had become the focus of the entire arena.

Qi Xingyu stared at her with almost vacant eyes, swallowing repeatedly as the greed on his face became impossible to conceal.

“I must have her!”

He shouted the vow repeatedly in his heart.

At the same time, his gaze toward Li Wudao grew increasingly cold.

He was a prince of the dynasty. A mere core disciple was beneath his notice.

Just then, a timid voice suddenly rose from below the platform.

“Can one low-grade spirit stone really help me comprehend a martial technique?”

The voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone’s ears with perfect clarity, leaving the crowd stunned.

In the eyes of most disciples, Li Wudao was nothing more than a clown seeking attention.

Could someone actually believe him?

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